2023.12.9 Sat.

10:30 - 12:00

Contribution of GOSAT series satellites to Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant observations for Sustainable Development

Organizer

Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ)/National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES)/Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)/Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC)

Seminar abstract

Abstract

Accelerated increases in concentrations of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)) are the well-known primary driver of climate change. Besides, short-lived climate forcers (SLCFs) such as ozone (O3) and aerosols are also important – the assessment of residual carbon budget and the development of climate mitigation policies need to integrally take into account these substances. In this seminar, we will first discuss the roles and contribution of the Japanese GOSAT satellite series in understanding the changes in GHGs as well as their future prospects. They include 1) advanced assessment of GHGs inventories and international collaboration, 2) contributions to Global Stocktake, 3) prospect with GOSAT-GW observations measuring NO2 as a SLCF, and 4) a follow-on mission currently under discussion. Studying SLCFs together is important to refine GHG flux estimations and also to better estimate future changes in the lifetime of CH4. In addition, aspects of SLCFs reduction that generate benefits to human and plant health, i.e., co-benefits with climate change measures, are to be highlighted; sustainable development will also be discussed in this context.

Program

Opening address -5 min-

Yutaka Matsuzawa MOEJ (Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs)

Overview of GOSAT series contributions and the future projects -5 min-

Shohei Okano MOEJ (Director of Climate Change Observation Research Strategy Office, Global Environment Bureau)

GHG observations by GOSAT series satellites -5 min-

Tazu Saeki NIES (Senior Researcher)

Introduction of SII-8 and follow-up projects for integrated monitoring -5 min-

Akihiko Ito University of Tokyo (Professor)/NIES (Principal Researcher)

Development of cost-efficient and transparent method to estimate CO2 emission using GOSAT satellite in Mongolia and Central Asia countries -5 min-

Masataka Watanabe Chuo University (Institute Professor)

Introduction of GOSAT-GW products and expected outcome -5 min-

Yu Someya NIES (Senior Researcher)

Major roles of SLCFs (short-lived climate forcers) in the mitigation pathway -5 min-

Yugo Kanaya JAMSTEC (Director of Earth Surface System Research Center)

Regional emissions and removals of carbon dioxide (2000-2022), and cobenefits of biomass burning emission reduction for air pollution control -5 min-

Prabir Patra JAMSTEC (Principal Scientist)/ Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) (Professor)

Open panel discussion -45 min-

See "Speakers" below

Closing address -5 min-

Aya Takatsuki MEXT (Duputy Director of the Environment and Energy Division, Research and Development Bureau)

Speakers

In-person

• Yutaka Matsuzawa / MOEJ (Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs)
• Shohei Okano / MOEJ (Director of Climate Change Observation Research Strategy Office, Global Environment Bureau)
• Tazu Saeki / NIES (Senior Researcher)
• Akihiko Ito / University of Tokyo (Professor) NIES (Principal Researcher)
• Masataka Watanabe / Chuo University (Institute Professor)
• Yu Someya / NIES (Senior Researcher)
• Yugo Kanaya / JAMSTEC (Director of Earth Surface System Research Center)
• Prabir Patra / JAMSTEC (Principal Scientist)/ Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) (Professor)
• Hiroshi Tanimoto / NIES (Deputy Director of Earth System Division)
• Batjargal Zamba / Science Advisor, Information and Research Institute for Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment, Former Special Envoy for Climate Change in Mongolia
• Sattor Saidov / Head, Center of study climate change and ozone layer/national coordinator IPCC, Agency for hydrometeorology, The Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
• Tomohiro Oda / Universities Space Research Association (USRA) (Senior scientist)/University of Maryland (Adjunct Professor)
• Aya Takatsuki / MEXT (Duputy Director of the Environment and Energy Division, Research and Development Bureau)

Related Links

• NIES Activities during UNFCCC COP28
• JASTEC's Seminar details
• Chuo University's seminar report (in Japanese)

Session Summary

In this event, we introduced the latest results and future prospects on greenhouse gases and short-lived air pollutants (SLCFs) observations from satellite, and their co-benefits of climate change countermeasures, and deepened the discussion and exchange opinions with audience through a panel discussion.
The event was moderated by Dr. Tanimoto (NIES) and started with opening remarks by Mr. Matsuzawa (MOEJ). In the first half, the several latest topics about Japan's Greenhouse gas observing satellites, GOSAT/GOSAT-2, were presented: their overview and achievements in environmental administration (Mr. Okano, MOEJ), scientific results and contribution to global stocktake (Dr. Saeki, NIES), an application to national CO2 emission estimation (Dr. Watanabe, Chuo University), and the preparation status of the third satellite, GOSAT-GW, scheduled to be launched in 2024 fiscal year (Dr. Someya, NIES). Then, project work on comprehensive greenhouse gas budget analysis based on satellite observations and ground/aircraft observations was presented (Dr. Ito, University of Tokyo), as well as the importance of understanding the dynamics of SLCFs, such as ozone and aerosols, in addition to greenhouse gases, and their climate and health co-benefits for emission reductions (Dr. Kanaya and Dr. Patra, JAMSTEC).
The panel discussion was held in the second half of the event. International activities and expectations on earth observations were discussed by panelists from the United States, Mongolia, and Tajikistan in addition to the speakers from the first half. Country-level cooperation of Japan with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan are in progress on utilizing national CO2 emission estimation technique based on GOSAT series data for future UN reports (Dr. Watanabe, Chuo University; Mr. Zamba, Mongolia; and Mr. Saidov, Tajikistan). The information provided by Earth observation satellites and the information required by actual stakeholders for action were discussed and expectations for improvements through observations and information from next-generation satellites were expressed (Dr. Oda, USRA), and the outlook for next-generation satellites was remarked (Dr. Someya, NIES). Several questions regarding observation and model details from the floor were addressed. The event ended with a speech from Ms.Takatsuki (MEXT of Japan).